Everyone is staying at the Wheeler's house, it's big and Mike and Nancy's parents aren't home. They have 3 rules, the "we're not stupid" rules:
1. No lights on
2. Curtains stay closed
3. No one leaves the house
The grownups are discussing their next move against Vecna, but it's been 3 weeks since they've decided to stay at the Wheelers, and they haven't made a single move or decision so far.
Lucas and Erica wanted to go back to the hospital, to visit Max, Eleven wanted to go too, but she knew her father's answer already, so she didn't even bother, and as expected Hopper didn't allow them to go, 'showing your faces is too dangerous right now' Hopper explained, and like that Lucas decided to claim the basement with Dustin and Mike.
Jonathan and Argyle hid their van somewhere save, afterwards they took their stuff, got high and claimed the ethic.
Steve does the the house hold, no one actually knows, because they're all too busy or just don't notice, except for Will, Will knows because Steve and him actually starting to bond more, Steve gives Will his clothes instead of leaving them somewhere on the bed or putting them in a closet, he actually makes a chat with Will because they both don't really talk to anyone. But anyway, Steve mostly does the laundry, and with a household this big that sure is needed. He doesn't really care about the fact that people don't notice, he doesn't wanna be called a "man-wife" anyway.
Nancy asked Erica and Eleven if they wanted to join her in her room, because obviously she claimed her own room. She warned them for Robin being there too with a friendly wink. Like that Erica and Eleven stayed in Nancy's room with Robin. Erica and Robin chatted very easily, and meanwhile Eleven was training as she enjoyed Nancy's company and support.
Enzo, Murray, Hopper and Joyce kept arguing with each other about their so called "plan" for Vecna, in the living room. Actually, everyone kept arguing with each other, everyone's stressed, worried and locked up in the same house, it's not as easy as it seems. Everyone is with someone, and there hasn't been a second someone in the house isn't arguing or picking fights with one another. Right now, Lucas, Mike and Dustin are arguing.
'Look I'm just saying you could've hugged me, I mean I was dead worried about you as well!' Dustin says
'What?! The world is ending and you're upset about that I didn't hug you after all that happened?!' Mike shouts at him offended
'Mike he's just saying-' Lucas tries
Mike looks at Lucas and then back at Dustin
'I mean you can blame Lucas for not being here too!' Mike shouts
'...' Lucas doesn't respond to that
'He was with Max in the hospital Mike-..!' Dustin shouts back
'Oh right so that excuse does count?! Eddie died and you're being a baby about this?!" Mike shouts.
That was too far.. Eddie was a loved friend that will be loved till after his death. This stays something very personal for Dustin, and Mike knew damn well he went too far. He left the basement and slammed the door, trying to show he didn't regret what he said, even though he knew damn well that that wasn't true.
Mike wants to go to Will, he now actually realizes he hasn't really seen Will the last couple weeks, while realizing this he feels horrible, he totally forgot because of the whole happening with his parents and Holly..! And like that he feels several feelings of guilt eating him from the inside out. He looks across the living room and kitchen and doesn't see him, he thinks about where else Will would have gone.
Well, the answer to that question is that Will has been upstairs a lot the past three weeks, he never ate his food downstairs with the others. He asked Nancy if they had painting supplies the second day after they went to the Wheeler's house. She showed him the painting supplies from her and her mother, and helped Will get the stuff he wanted to use to Mike's room. Will never would've chosen to go spend the next three weeks in Mike's room while Mike is still is in the house, and especially not without asking. But Nancy said it was fine and that Mike slept in the basement with the others anyway. Thinking about that Mike's room would also be the only room available where no one would interrupt him or stare at him actually didn't left him that much of a choice.
Will has been wanting to talk and chat with Mike a lot, but after what happened in the woods he just doesn't know how to start a
normal conversation! Will has been thinking so much about it, that he made himself think that Mike faked everything, so it wouldn't be awkward. But he has also been painting, not that it distracted him from Mike, because the painting is Mike, a very beautiful portrait of Mike..
Talking of which, Mike in the mean time is still looking for Will and went upstairs, he saw Will with Nancy a few weeks ago so maybe she'd know more, before he would have to check every single inch of the house. He knocks at the bedroom door
'Hey- it's Mike-! I wanna talk to' He gets interrupted
He hears the conversation inside the bedroom stopping and hears someone getting off the bed, the door opens. To Mike's surprise El opens the door with the same face as the time she dumped him for the first time, good that he cannot get "double-dumped"
'You want to apologize?' El asks
For a moment Mike had forgotten that El and him ever where a thing- but he remembers now, and he also remembers the answer to her question.
'What? No- Nono I'm here for Nancy, she's here right' Mike says as he looks behind Eleven
Eleven looks behind her, at Nancy sitting on the bed, Mike can see his sister too, then El looks back at Mike.
'No.' She says as she slams the door in his face
'What-!' Before he could even protest the door opens again
'I swear to god El-' Nancy says as she opens the door
'You needed something?' Nancy asks
'Uhm, yeah- yeah! I saw you talking to Will uhh- like a few weeks ago?'
Will in the room across the hallway can hear them, he's happy to hear that Mike's looking for him, but covers up his painting quick, he doesn't wanna seem like a stalker or obsessed person.
'Oh yeah I did, why you ask?' Nancy asks confused
'I'm looking for him, do you know where he is?' Mike looks across the hallway
'Yeah, he's in your room'
'My room.? Uh yeah okay thanks Nance' Mike says
he walks towards his room and opens the door to his bedroom.
'Will-!' Mike says louder than average
Will is still covering up his painting as Mike storms in, He even scared him a bit though Will knew Mike was coming.
'Jesus Mike-' he says as he laughs his shock away
'I-I uhm..'
Well shit, Mike didn't think this part through, what is he gonna say now?? They confessed their feelings to one another other weeks ago, then didn't talk at all for weeks, and now they're in Mike's room, where Will has apparently been in for 3 weeks. But what is Will holding? A cloth? He's covering something up- it's shaped as a canvas! Mike loved Will's last painting! What would he have painted this time? Mike closes the door behind him and tries to set up a normal conversation.
'What's that?' Mike asks with a smile
'Oh it's- nothing- just something to keep me busy, it's not big dea-' Will gets interrupted by Mike's enthusiasm
'Can I see it!!' Mike asks as he walks towards it
'No-! Wait- Mike-!!'
Mike walks towards the canvas and takes off the cloth, before he could even look at the painting Will pulled him back by his arm, took the cloth out of Mike's hand and threw it back over the painting with a scared look at it, now he look back at Mike, they're looking each other right in the eye for a moment, then Will let go of Mike's arm quick.
'It's not done yet-..' Will uses as an excuse
'Right- uhm okay! Sorry' Mike apologizes a distracted smile
'Did you.. need anything-?' Will asks as he sits down on Mike's bed
'Oh no uhm, I was just- you know uh.. never mind-' Mike says as he steps back
'Oh.. uhm okay!' Will says
Mike walks towards the door and grabs the doorknob, but he doesn't open the door. He's in his thoughts, he doesn't want to go, he literally doesn't has anywhere else to go to either- plus he wants to talk it out with Will, so
'Uhm..' Mike says, still looking at his hand on the doorknob.
Will looks up hopefully and with full attention
'I had this uhm, this argument, with uhm, Dustin and Lucas and.. I feel kinda-..'
'Bad?' Will asks with a smile
'Yeah..' Mike answers, also with a smile
'We can talk about it' Will offers
He moves away from the middle of Mike's bed and sits on one side to make room for him, Mike joins him and starts explaining and telling him everything.. about how he was triggered by Dustin, and that he actually felt guilty about it, Will listens to it all with full attention, interest and respect. When Mike is done after a while there follows this silence, Mike is relieved from all the guilt from the fight by opening his heart about it, he thinks about that the last time he was this open about his guilt and worries was with Will as well.
'Well, I think you could let it rest for a moment, and then maybe start a conversation with them again, especially with Dustin, but also with Lucas, to apologize' Will advices him
'Yeah.. but what if, what if I went too far this time..?' Mike worries
'Mike, you guys are best friends, you guys has been since forever! Yes you have crossed the line, I can't lie about that..-'
Mike listens to Will carefully, just like Will listened him, he's also looking at Will, he thinks about that Will is actually so.. pure and beautiful.. and caring and sweet..
'So trust me everything will be fine!'
'Wha- uh- yeah! Yeah thanks..'
'Is everything alright..?' Will asks
'..' Mike doesn't respond for a moment, he's about to change the subject
'Will I-..' Mike tries to start, but he just can't find his words
'..' Will waits patiently, he gives Mike his time
'I'm.. sorry..' Mike says
'..?' Will doesn't understand
'I should've.. I should've kept talking to you..! I thought maybe you needed space or something, I don't know, but I can't just leave you after all that..! and I got so distracted by the whole "move into my house thing" and the thing with my parents is taking over my mind..!! I just- I- I-I should've-..'
Mike can't speak anymore, he can feel that his voice is about to crack, but he doesn't want to cry, he can't, anything but that right now.. he can't think..! He's panicking, he-..! he-..!
Will puts his hand on Mike's leg and holds it tight the second he realizes Mike is hyperventilating, Mike looks him in the eyes frightened, like he just woke up from a nightmare.
'Mike..!'
'..' Mike breathes heavily
'..yeah..?' He says
'It's okay' Will says calmly, with a trustworthy smile
'I should've reached out more too.! I mean it's not only you.. I could've at least came downstairs to eat with the rest..' Will says
Will let go of Mike's leg, he feels guilty now.. but Mike notices immediately, looks at him and says though Will looks away
'Hey.. hey! Will this is not your fault okay! You get that-!'
'But it's not yours either!' Will says as his voice cracks
'..' again Mike doesn't respond for a moment, but then he smirks
'Well then it's no one's fault right?' Mike says
'Tsh, yeah I guess' Will laughs
And like that they both laugh, they're finally able to start up a conversation again, and they actually chat a lot, and like that, they're alright again.